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Monday, 28 December 2015

As 2015 draws to a close it's good to look back over the year that was to reminisce about the highs and lows, the lessons learnt and things to build on for next year.

Highlights for me included attending several general blogger and specific beauty blogger events. I loved meeting other bloggers in real life, people as passionate about beauty and blogging as me, people who understand the urge to photograph products before opening and using them! Lol!

Looking back over my blog statistics for the past 12 months these were the 9 most popular posts on Fabulous and Fun Life as voted by the number of views they received from you.

In addition to these above posts, the posts I most enjoyed writing and then interacting with you on were the Monday Makeup Madness link up party posts that I started back in April 2015. I feel privileged to have hosted such a supportive group of beauty bloggers each week. I feel like we have all become good blogging buddies and it is so lovely to catch up with you all via the link up each week. I've been lucky to meet a couple of you in real life, and I look forward to "meeting" each of you online every week, reading about what products you're all currently loving and using! I hope you're all enjoying some relaxing down time currently and I'll "see" you online again soon I hope!

What would you like to see more of on Fabulous and Fun Life blog in 2016?

Monday, 21 December 2015

Every year, two to three days before Christmas, when I'm feeling relieved that I have finished all my Christmas shopping AND wrapped everything, I suddenly discover that I am one gift short! It's happened to me so many times!

It's my worst nightmare as the crowded shopping malls and shopping complexes totally overwhelm me right before Christmas. I hate searching endlessly for a parking space and I hate crowds!Luckily, I've found a solution to my annual dilemma! And I'm willing to share it with you! For easy last minute gifts when I'm trying to avoid the humongous shopping malls and it's too late to have any chance of receiving posted internet shopped items before the Christmas deadline, I go to my local Amcal Pharmacy at our relatively uncrowded local strip of shops.

My favourite go-to gifts there are the Colour Theory range of cosmetics.Colour Theory is an affordable cosmetics brand with over 100 products in its range covering face, cheeks, eyes, lips and nails. Prices start from $4, with no individual item priced over $10. Colour Theory is exclusive to Amcal, Amcal Max and Guardian Pharmacies. I have yet to meet a female who does not love receiving new lip products so these Jumbo Lip Crayons priced at $8 each are a perfect last minute gift! They are easy to apply, gliding onto the lips effortlessly and feel quite hydrating on the lips. The included beeswax and carnauba wax ingredients also add a lovely touch of gloss to the lips. This year as an extra Christmas treat I will also be popping these Colour Theory jumbo lip crayons into homemade Christmas bonbons for my female family members at our family Christmas dinner. Much better than the plastic rubbish, dad jokes and paper hats you find in the normal commercially bought Christmas bonbons!

Colour Theory Jumbo Lip Crayons

At Christmas in addition to the regular affordable cosmetics items, Colour Theory also has some beautifully packaged Christmas gifts such as the pictured Drop Dead Glamorous Lip Gloss Set priced at $12. What a perfect solution when you're not sure exactly what colour lip gloss you should buy for your friend!

Colour Theory Drop Dead Glamorous Lip Gloss Set

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Fabulous and Fun Life blog will now be taking a short two week holiday. However, I will be popping onto Instagram regularly as I can't go completely cold turkey! Not even at Christmas - hehe!

Do you have a last minute gift go-to solution? Or do you buy an extra gift or two just in case you need these?

Monday, 14 December 2015

A while ago now I received the second Marie Claire Ageless Parcel beauty subscription box. It is full of amazing products all designed to help you look your best and combat the visible signs of ageing.

Marie Claire Ageless The Parcel

Marie Claire Ageless The Parcel Contents

As always with my subscription box reviews I have listed below the products I received in this Ageless Parcel in alphabetical order. I have quoted the product information that the Ageless Parcel provides on its information card in italic print and I've followed this with my comments in normal print. Alpha-H Liquid GoldFull Size: 50 ml RRP: $30

This is the product I was most excited about receiving in this Marie Claire Ageless Parcel box. I have read so many wonderful reviews of this product, it will be good to try it for myself. Keep an eye out for a separate review after I have used it for a couple of weeks.Dr Lewinn's Multi Moisture BalmDeluxe Sample Size 15g. RRP: $9.95

Dr Lewinn's is a long time favourite brand of mine and I love multi-tasking products, so I'm very happy to see this product included in this box. This product is a convenient travel sized one that I will probably keep in my handbag for use when I'm out and about.Jergens Shea Butter Deep Conditioning MoisturiserFull Size: 250ml, $7.99

There was a Jergens Ultra Healing Body Moisturiser in the Summer Edit of the Marie Claire The Parcel which I loved. Thus I'm looking forward to using this Jergens product also. Jergens products are so affordably priced for the great quality they are. I hope this product is similar quality to other Jergens products I've used.

Narciso Rodriguez Narciso EDT

Deluxe Sample Size: 4ml. Value: $11.73

30ml RRP: $88

Narciso Rodriguez Narciso EDT

"From the master of minimalism comes this elegantly spare bottle. Inside, a blend of white peony, Bulgarian rose, musk, woods, black and white cedars, and vetiver notes, makes for a sensual fragrance that is both chic and timeless."

As many of you probably know I love fragrances, so this is another product that excites me!

"Made from 100 per cent marine collagen, this supplement is tasteless and blends clear in hot and cold drinks, and helps naturally replenish the collagen levels needed for a glowing complexion, healthy hair and strong nails."

This is a different type of beauty product to those I regularly use. It will be interesting to see how this supplement performs, although I am not expecting to see any visible differences after using only 2 sachets.

"Beloved by beauty insiders and celebrities alike, this moisture-boosting sheet mask is saturated in the brand's signature Pitera essence and thoroughly hydrates skin, leaving it looking noticeably more radiant and crystal clear."

This is an expensive facial mask I probably wouldn't have bought for myself. I've read glowing reviews of SK-II products so I'm glad for the opportunity to try it.

The Body Shop Oils Of Life Intensely Revitalising Facial Oil

Deluxe Sample Size: 7ml. Value: $12.82(Full Size: 30 ml RRP: $54.95)

The Body Shop Oils Of Life Intensely Revitalising Facial Oil

"This daily facial oil revitalises skin and helps reduce the visible signs of ageing. Made from 99% oils of natural origin, the lightweight formula effortlessly melts into skin, leaving a silky, non-sticky finish. Use alone or add to your moisturiser."

I currently have quite a few oils already open at home that I need to use up so I probably won't open this one for a while. My oils seem to last for a long time. This one is however a convenient travel size and is securely closing in a plastic bottle, so I will probably take it with me on my next holiday.Once again this Marie Claire Ageless Parcel is a fabulous beauty subscription box winner! I love the sound of each product and will use them all. This box allows me to try numerous age appropriate beauty products aimed at younger looking skin, plus a lovely fragrance, all of which I have never tried before. This box is brilliant value. I've calculated the total value of the box to be $103.82. For a small outlay of $25 this is an absolute bargain!The Marie Claire Ageless Parcel costs $25 for a one-off subscription or there is a more economical offer of $90 for an annual subscription of 4 boxes. For more information on subscribing options clickHERE.

Sunday, 13 December 2015

All bloggers are welcome to join in and link up a makeup or beauty related post each.All non-bloggers are welcome to join the party and read the fabulous range of beauty tips, tricks and reviews linked up by the gorgeous participating bloggers.

Monday Makeup Madness #36 Link Up Party

The aim of the Monday Makeup Madness link up party is to share some beauty blogger love, strengthen our beauty blogger community, help all our blogs be seen by new readers and also enable our readers to discover some wonderful new tips, tricks and beauty products.

Last week we had 22 lovely beauty bloggers link up a beauty related post each. The three most viewed posts from last week's link up party plus one of my favourite posts were:

Popular Linked Posts From TheMonday Makeup Madness #35 Link Up Party

Kats Colouring blog's review of the stunning metallic Eye of Horus Goddess pencils and EOTD was popular

Cruelty free makeup products are becoming more and more widespread and Rachel Beauty Style blog listed some of her favourite brands

Sagan Morrow's comparison review of the Smashbox Always Sharp and NARS Velvet lip liner pencils was useful for those of us wanting to purchase a new lip liner and trying to decide between these two good quality pencils, and

Lily Not Lousie blog's review of the Brite Organix Wash Off Hair Colours was also popular.

I'd love you to join this week's Monday Makeup Madness link up party and if your post is one of the three most clicked upon I'll feature it in next week's link up post. I'll also pick one other linked post to feature. The rules of the link up are simple:

If you would like to pin your linked posts to the Monday Makeup Madness pinterest group board follow Fabulous Fun Life on pinterest (this is a pinterest requirement not mine) and then I can invite you to join this board as a co-pinner. All bloggers who participate in the Monday Makeup Madness link up party are welcome to become co-pinners of this group board. It's another great way to get your posts seen and read by new readers.

Finally, please share the link to this Monday Makeup Madness link up party on your blogs & social media accounts to help get the word out among more beauty bloggers, inviting them to join in & share some beauty blogger love with us! We will all benefit from more link up party participants and readers. NOTE: Due to everyone's busy-ness with Christmas and New Year festivities the Monday Makeup Madness link up party will be having a three week break from next week onwards. The next Monday Makeup Madness link up party will start on Monday 11 January 2016!

Monday, 7 December 2015

I believe the best gifts for women in the 30 year+ category are consumable gifts. Gifts that will provide them with a little, or large, (depending on your budget) touch of luxury, pampering and relaxation! I know these are my favourite type of gifts to receive!Consumable gifts won't further clutter already full homes but they can be enjoyed guilt-free over the Christmas, New Year and holiday season. These consumable gifts are indulgences women may not have bought for themselves whilst they've been busy organising and buying Christmas gifts for everyone else! Best of all these gifts encourage women to relax and take some precious time out for themselves! Don't all women need that!!!!! Below are some of my favourite gift suggestions for women 30 years+.

As regular readers of Fabulous and Fun Life know I am a huge fan of lovely fragrances, whether these be fragrances for the home or fragrances for the body. Giving the gift of fragrance is the perfect consumable luxurious and pampering gift for any woman, especially one aged 30 years+! Here are some of my favourite fragrant gift suggestions.FRAGRANT GIFTS FOR THE HOME

Juicy Couture By Juicy Couture For Women EDP Spray 100ml Currently on sale, reduced from $139 to $63.95! Click to shop HERETravalo Excel Refillable Fragrance Atomiser 5ml Purple $19.95 Click to shop HEREI know this isn't a consumable but this was too perfect a little gift not to include! It's a refillable fragrance atomiser, perfect for taking travelling or for popping in your handbag when out socialising or at work! It comes in various different colours so you could even get several different colours for different fragrances when travelling. These are definitely on my Santa wish list! HAND CREAMSThe older I get the more hand cream I seem to need and go through! Thus I think hand creams are a perfect consumable Christmas gift. I especially love the festively packaged MOR My One and Only in Lychee Flower hand cream!

EDIBLE CHOCOLATE BLOOMSFinally, in addition to loving beauty products, I also love chocolate, as I suspect do a lot of other 30 year+ women! We need it to survive our busy lives - lol! Thus I couldn't leave out these stunningly presented festive chocolate creations!

I hope the above Gift Guide for 30 year+ women has given you a few fabulous gift ideas & made your Christmas shopping a bit easier and quicker!

If you love these gift suggestions but think no one will take up your hints, even after you leave this post open on your screen in front of your hubby, then my final suggestion is to indulge and treat yourself! Go on, you deserve it!

Don't forget to head over and enter the giveaway on Fabulous and Fun Life blog. Click HERE for the giveaway. Entries will close 14/12/2015. There will be three lucky winners. Each prize is worth over $140.

* The MOR My One & Only was kindly gifted to me for editorial consideration. All opinions are my own. Full disclosure policy here.

Sunday, 6 December 2015

All bloggers are welcome to join in and link up a makeup or beauty related post each.All non-bloggers are welcome to join the party and read the fabulous range of beauty tips, tricks and reviews linked up by the gorgeous participating bloggers.

Monday Makeup Madness #35 Link Up Party

The aim of the Monday Makeup Madness link up party is to share some beauty blogger love, strengthen our beauty blogger community, help all our blogs be seen by new readers and also enable our readers to discover some wonderful new tips, tricks and beauty products.

Last week we had 21 awesome beauty bloggers link up a beauty related post each. The three most viewed posts from last week's link up party plus one of my favourite posts were:

Popular Linked Posts From The Monday Makeup Madness #34 Link Up Party

Thank you to all of you who read and viewed Fabulous and Fun Life's review and swatches of the Rimmel Lasting Finish By Kate Nude Collection lipsticks. I really appreciate it. #45 and #42 are my new favourite nude lipsticks and are already on high rotation for me this summer!

Another popular post was Max the Unicorn's Top 7 Beauty Purchase Regrets! A lot of us were curious about what Di regrets buying! I understood all of her regrets especially the bright yellow nail polish but then when I read IndieAna's nail design post next and saw her use a similar bright yellow as the centre of her pansy design I thought Di might end up changing her mind about regreting this product as it looked so good in Michelle's nail design!

Once again Kat from Kats Colourings had a popular post with her review of the Mirenesse Lip Bombs which she received in her BeautyHeaven Best In Beauty prize. We all love her reviews and photos - she does the best swatches!

I'd love you to join this week's Monday Makeup Madness link up party and if your post is one of the three most clicked upon I'll feature it in next week's link up post. I'll also pick one other linked post to feature. The rules of the link up are simple:

If you would like to pin your linked posts to the Monday Makeup Madness pinterest group board follow Fabulous Fun Life on pinterest (this is a pinterest requirement not mine) and then I can invite you to join this board as a co-pinner. All bloggers who participate in the Monday Makeup Madness link up party are welcome to become co-pinners of this group board. It's another great way to get your posts seen and read by new readers.

Finally, please share the link to this Monday Makeup Madness link up party on your blogs & social media accounts to help get the word out among more beauty bloggers, inviting them to join in & share some beauty blogger love with us! We will all benefit from more link up party participants and readers. Don't forget to head over and enter the giveaway on Fabulous and Fun Life blog. Click HERE for the giveaway. Entries will close 14/12/2015. There will be three lucky winners. Each prize is worth over $140.

About Me

Hi, my name is Ingrid and I believe in looking fabulous and having fun at every age, including in your 40s and beyond!
I hope I can encourage, inspire and motivate you and in turn, also be encouraged, inspired and motivated by you, to live the most fabulous and fun life possible.
xxx
Ingrid